Where the magic happens

Kellie from Mum PR posted the image below on her facebook page last week and it was the inspiration behind today’s post!

X hates running with me.

He likes to plod along at an even pace and usually I am happy enough plodding next to him… until someone pops up a little ahead of us. Then I can’t help myself, I have to chase them down. It drives him crazy.

It seems I don’t like people passing me either!

The other day a guy went past while I was running up the coast and I thought to myself “C’mon Kelly … why don’t you see how long you can hang with him”. In an instant my pace picked up and I became so focused on him and so surprised I was staying with him, that I didn’t register one of my best friends coming along the path towards me and actually waving at me till she’d gone past! I was so focused on him that when I did register she was there, I actually considered continuing on and not stopping to talk to her. Oh my word {sorry Nat}!

My friends (once they stop laughing at the story above) will tell you that this is just another example of my *slightly* competitive personality.

I however would argue that it is something much more primal. If we are honest, there is not much that beats the little thrill you get when you realise that you are operating WAY outside your comfort zone!

Trust me when I tell you that we ALL have this ingrained instinct. So how can we take advantage of it?

Clearly what we need is something that is worth going after but is also something we’re not sure we can reach.

Something that gives us that little frisson of fear, a quivering in the pit of our stomach when we think about it.

Something that can activate our inner competitor and transport us to that place where the magic happens (if we just let it).

The start of February is a great time to ponder the above I reckon. The simultaneous franticness and lethargy of January is over, kids are back at school and we’ve got renewed energy for the year ahead! It’s the perfect time to inject a little something into our lives that makes our hearts beat a little faster when we think about it.

Something I am not sure I can reach? MEGA HUGE TICK … I mean come on, how hotly contested do you think this is going to be? Extremely.

Something that gives a frisson of fear? Quivering in the pit of my stomach? HELL YES!

Something to activate my inner competitor? Oh yes. VERY YES

So tell me …

Is there something in your life right now that you can’t stop thinking about? Something that is going to take you WAY out of your comfort zone and maybe, just maybe take you to where the magic happens? I’d love to hear about it in the comments

Comments

Love it Kel!
You know I understand your comeptitive nature and am currently looking for my next goal….thinking about finally taking French lessons in preparation for my time at the chateau. Will keep you updated.
In the meantime if you need any help picking out Manolos in New York, I’m pretty free in September!

Well I know I might not be panning my 6 month escape to the french countryside for a few more years but I like to be organised…..
At least then when I am making my property enquires I will be able to communicate with ease. I thought you were taking up the 2nd half of the year’s lease? Avez-vous oublié?

Thanks for the mention, Kelly. That image has so inspired me since someone kindly shared it with me last week. I’m glad they did too.
Strangely, while I have lots of clients nationally, I don’t have any local Tassie clients yet. I’m hindered slightly by the fact hubby is a newspaper editor, which rules me out of getting publicity for myself in traditional media here. So I have a few projects I’m working on that are going to take me out of my comfort zone, but also help me reach the market I so want to get into. Fingers crossed….

Oh I am trying to work up the courage to enter that competition too. That is a great community.

I LOVE your diagram and this piece. I am operating way outside my comfort zone lately with my new podcast interview series and my attempts to break into the freelance travel writing world. I know that magic will never happen unless you leap out of your comfort zone. It’s so scary but trust in the magic

oh wow, what a fabulous competition only I’d be off to Killimanjaro! My passport needs a good work out and fashion week luvvies give me the heebie jeebies (although NYC is most definitely on my travel must see list!!) Now that I’ve read about it I’m most definitely thinking obsessively of that! Will definitely comment on your WIF post when you’ve posted it!

Come on over and join in the fun! The more people blogging at Women in Focus, the stronger the community will be. Sure we can’t all win the trip to New York or Kilimanjaro (which I would also love to do, but I am also desperate to see a dear friend in New York) – but it will be fun trying

I have a competitive nature, I will fight to the death on any conversation. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone is a very difficult thing. I suffer from anxiety and stress. and today, I took my baby to his best start appointment and he rocked, then I went and booked myself into a tafe course. I have not studied since high school and I did not study WELL in high school. SO this post spoke to me today…. THANK YOU x

Hey Naomie – I got tingles reading your comment. Maybe because anxiety and stress were a huge part of my life last year and I know how hard it is to break away from their clutches. I am so excited about your day today – you are definitely heading to where the magic happens!!

Gosh – what a can of worms you’ve opened her Kelly !
I have two similar projects (books that I want to write) that have been nagging me in the back of my mind for a few months/year now. Hubby keeps saying…go for it…I want a good friends help but have been too chicken to reveal my ideas/concept. I have a heap of notes floating around in a drawer, everytime I open the drawer it stares at me…so I quickly shut the drawer and run way back into my comfort zone.